Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-07-01
Tennessee Letter.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. June 14.

DEAR GRApHIc:-In my last let
ter l told you something of what
Lookout Mountain is now. But
everything is tame here at this
time compared with the stirring
events of the latter part of the
year 1863. The Battle of Chica-
mauga had resulted in the defeat
of Gen. Rosencrantz. That gen.
eral had been relieved and Gen.
Grant appointed to the command
of the army Of the Cumberland.
Sherman had already reached the
scene of action, in person, and his
army-the army of the Tennessee
Grants old veterans would arrive
on the following day. Everything
was now about ready for active OPP
erations. The rebels held Look
out mountain, the upper end of
the Chattanooga valley, and Mis-
sionary Ridge as far north as
Fremont Hill, thus forming al
most the arc OF circle In front OF
Chattanooga General Grants
intentions were to await the arrival
of Gen. Sherman's division, the
troops whom he had selected to
make the attack, and with these
fall upon Bragg's right, and first
drive it back. But it seems that
information which he received on
the night of November 22d, de-
termined him not to wait for the
getting of Sherman's troops into
lposition. Although they had ar
rived in sight and were crossing
the river at Browns Ferry. On
the morning of the 23d, the order
was given to Gen. Thomas to be-
gin the attempt on Bragg's center.
This was done in splendid style
and Orchard Knob, after a short
sharp struggle, was in the possess
sion of the boys in blue. Mean
time Gen. Sherman's division had
been, with difficulty, crossing the
Tennessee at Browns Ferry, on
account of the inefficiency of the
pontoons. In the afternoon the
bridge was broken leaving Oster-
hans division on the west side of
the river. He was then ordered
to report to Hooker who lay in
Lookout valley west of Lookout
, creek near the foot of Raccoon
mountain. Meantime Sherman
| took position in front of Bragg's
left. Hooker was ordered to make
| a demonstration against Lookout
mountain ON the following morn
ing, and if there seemed posi-
| bility of success to make an at
tack. At daylight on the morning
of the 24th General Hooker began
this movment. Geary's division was
sent up to Wanhatchie, the near
est place where Lookout creek
could then be crossed, and from
this point he began the assent of
the mountain from the west side
circling around the face toward
the north. At the same time a
bridge was being thrown across
Lookout creek, a mile lower down
where Hooker's main force were
ready to cross. The whole noun
tain was covered with thick fog
or cloud so that the movements of
troops could not be seen, either
from the mountain or the position
of Grant, Sherman or Thomas.
But Hooker Was not a man to de-
lay. With the impetuosity of
whirlwind he threw his troops for
ward and up the mountain side
amid the clouds. The way in
places is almost perpendicular.
Ravines and fallen timber had to
be crossed, and rugged rocks and
cliffs to be scaled. The pickets were
driven in and at once there was
general roar of musket all along
the mountain side while at the
same time the artillery opened fire
from Moccasin point, and shot and
shell went screaming over the adj
vancingtroops and pouring in up
on the rebels on top of the noun
tain. 1t was not known, even to
Grant himself that a battle was to
be fought, for Hooker's orders had
been conditional; so when at 8 \
o'clock the thunder of the artillery
and steady war of musketry an
nounced that a battle was in pro-
gress, it was a surprise to both
armies. Bragg's center and right
were momentarily expecting at
tack. The army of the Tennessee
under Sherman, with the steady |
firmness of veterans, were await
ing the word to fall upon the rebel
right, while the army of the Cum
berland were eager to avenge the
misfortunes of Chicamauga, but as
the startling sound of battle came
crashing though the mist from
wholly unexpected point, and that
only two miles away, each man
looked at his neighbor in astonish-
ment. All eyes We're turned to-
ward the mountain yet nothing
could be seen, not even a flash
from the great guns which were
pouring fire and death into each
army. For hours the battle ragged,